#myserpentine
NEW CHAPTER — 49. GIVE IT A NAME.
“I’ll be down in a minute,” she repeated, firmer.
“What’s wrong?”
“Tell Jill and Izzy to go home. Tell them I’m sorry, but that I—just tell them, would you?”
“What?”
The desk chair squeaked, she huffed, and the lock clicked. The door opened only slightly, but it was enough to catch her eyes. Wide, vulnerable, and tear-stained.
“What happened?”
“I’ll tell you after they leave,” she whispered. “Tell them I’m sorry, that I didn’t mean to fuck up the night, but—” Valerie twisted back toward the desk and shrugged—at a loss. “Please, Axl, I’m in no shape to do it myself.”
He nodded slowly. “Alright, just—shit, is it bad news? Does she need something?”
“She’s fine,” Valerie said. “It’s…” The tears returned, her darkened lashes clumping. The shake of her head was swift. “I can’t explain ‘til they’re gone. It’s humiliating.”
“It’s not.”
“It is,” she whispered. “Please believe me.”
wattpad:[full fic] [new chapter]
ao3:[full fic][new chapter]
